Exploring the ergonomic competencies and proficiencies of human performance improvement professionals: A mixed methods exploratory study.

摘要

This study explored the relationship between ergonomics and the professional members of the American Society for Training & Development (ASTD) Chapter in Texas. Utilizing a combination of Thomas Gilbert's (1978) behavior engineering model, Malcolm Knowles's andragogy (Ozuah, 2005), and the ergonomic competencies of the International Ergonomics Association (IEA) as the conceptual framework for this study, along with the input of experts within the field of human performance improvement (HPI), a set of ergonomic-related performance improvement questions were administered to the professional members of the ASTD Chapters in Texas. The intent of these questions was to assess how performance improvement professionals view and utilize ergonomics in HPI. A sample of 108 performance improvement professionals from the eight ASTD chapters in Texas were surveyed to gather data in four categories---continuing education/professional development, actual utilization of ergonomics within the ADDIE model, perception of performance improvement professionals' qualifications to utilize ergonomics within the ADDIE model, and the perception of how beneficial ergonomics was within various work environments. Demographic information consisting of level of education, degree specialization, job title, and primary industry of employment was also gathered in order to determine if significant correlations occurred within the data. The data analysis revealed that significant correlations existed between how the performance improvement specialists in the Texas ASTD chapters viewed and utilized ergonomics within HPI in regards to degree specialization, job title, and primary industry of employment. A significant correlation did not exist in regards to level of education.